The Monterey Regional Airport is now home to 2,354 solar panels that will take the airport 95 percent off the grid.

The new solar array will produce 1.5 million kilowatts of energy a year, enough electricity to power 111 homes, and it is going to save the airport a lot on its utility bills.

“Our lights run 24 hours a day and that consumes a lot of energy, our budget last year was $284,000,” said airport general manager Michael LaPier about the PG&E bill.

The 3-acre solar array was installed by Opterra Solar a San Jose based company that has installed solar at Yuba County Airport and the Salinas Municipal Airport.

Opterra worked with the Federal Aviation Administration to design solar arrays that are safe for airports and do not distract incoming pilots. The panels are set at an angle that will not generate any extra glare and make it hard for pilots to see.

“It'll be safe while it is generating clean energy,” said Emily Douglas with Opterra.

The California Energy Commission helped to finance the project and solar is inline with the airport’s ongoing effort to go green.

In 1999 the airport bought its first electric vehicle, then in 2004 it started switching its field lighting over to LED and now it will run on solar.